By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Two Clanton Intermediate School teachers have been awarded 2018 Bright Ideas grants by the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative.

Third-grade teacher Jill Moatts received $400, and speech therapist Rachel Bromley received $500.

“I applied for it to fund my classroom library,” Moatts said. “I am using the money to buy more books on topics that interest my students. For example, I have started a collection of sport biographies that my boys love! Also, they enjoy Captain Awesome and Flat Stanley chapter books, so I am adding to that collection as well.”

Sets of science and social studies related topics for daily reading in small groups were also purchased with funds from the grant.

“Accelerated Reader (AR) is huge at our school,” Moatts said. “Students will read more if they are interested in what they are reading.”

This was her first time to receive a Bright Ideas grant.

Bromley wrote a grant for Wobble Chairs to help students focus and beanbag chairs for sensory stimulation and learning stations.

Bromley works with students who are having trouble correctly pronouncing letters and words and answering questions.

“These chairs are designed to allow children a safe outlet for restlessness and built-up energy by gently rolling with children’s natural movements while simultaneously improving postural stability by exercising back, leg and abdominal muscles,” Bromley said.

The chairs help students with ADHD to focus and helps fidgety students to calm down.

The funds for the grant have already come in, and she has purchased some of the chairs.

After two days of using the chairs, she can tell a difference.

“I’m pleased so far,” Bromley said.

Bromley said this was her first time applying to the grant program.

“It’s a very detailed application, which I appreciate, ” Bromley said.

She said the application asked for a description of how the items being requested would benefit students, how many students would benefit and how long the items would last.

The Central Alabama Electric Cooperative awards grants on an annual basis.